Today I want to bring you my guide to the best London department stores. The city’s major names are iconic in the retail world, and their selections of clothing, accessories, gifts, food, and other alluring items are hard to beat. From traditional to contemporary, there are a lot to choose from when it comes to shopping in London. I’ve included a map of where you can find them all, too.
London Department Stores
Shopping in the UK capital can be overwhelming. Like many major cities around the world, London is a popular place to browse and buy.
From independent boutiques to iconic department stores, high street retailers, and shopping malls, the city has a lot to offer those on the hunt for the best things to buy in London.
But one of my favorite things about London’s department stores is that they offer more than just a curated selection of things to purchase in one convenient place.
From stunning interiors to famous cafes, they present an experience for all the senses.
Because of that, many of them are household names throughout the world. From Knightsbridge to Soho and Mayfair, Brompton Road to Piccadilly and Oxford Street, they draw locals and visitors from across the globe.
Whether you’re looking for a new outfit for yourself, gifts for loved ones back home, something for your house, or a fun souvenir, there’s a department store in the UK capital where you can find what you want.
1. Fortnum & Mason
When it comes to classic London department stores, Fortnum & Mason tops my list. Established in 1707 by William Fortnum and Hugh Mason, this traditional shop on Piccadilly in St James’s is one of the most quintessentially British places in the UK capital.
As such, it’s only natural that Fortnums would have an amazing selection of things to fall in love with.
Its iconic food shop features everything from fine teas to biscuits and honey. There’s even a grocery store on the lower ground floor. And that’s to say nothing of the famous hampers.
But it’s not just food here. Whether you’re looking for dishes, handbags, scarves, or accessories, there’s something you’ll love on every floor (not to mention the views from the atrium).
There are restaurants and cafes here, too. I particularly like going for the classic Fortnum & Mason afternoon tea in the top-floor Diamond Jubilee Tea Salon (they do a great gluten-free afternoon tea as well).
And if you’re visiting in the run-up to December 25th, it’s hard to beat the Christmas shop at Fortnums.
From crackers to ornaments, decorations, advent calendars, and dishes, its selection and displays make it one of the best London department stores at Christmas. I do a lot of my festive shopping here, and the gifts always delight.
2. Liberty London
Liberty is another of my favorite places to shop in London. This landmark store in Soho offers a mix of stunning historic architecture and beautiful things to buy.
Located right between Regent Street and Carnaby Street on Great Marlborough Street, Liberty’s half-timbered facade and eye-catching interior are legendary.
But it’s not just architecture. Liberty has long been famous for fabrics, and its prints and patters are highly sought after. I adore the ones that feature the botanical artworks of Arts and Crafts Movement pioneer William Morris.
There’s more to buy, too. Its Stationery and Books department, British gift selection, and flower shop are some of my favorite spots in the store. I regularly pick up presents for friends and family here (and the occasional treat for myself).
Add to that a 4th-floor Christmas shop that’s open from the end of summer, and it’s hard to beat this place. In fact, it’s one of my favorite places for Christmas shopping in London (just go early in the season to avoid the huge crowds).
3. Harrods
Next on my list of the best London department stores is Harrods. A Knightsbridge staple on Brompton Road, this is one of the biggest luxury department stores in Europe.
Harrods is synonymous with the finer things in life, and you can find all the big-name designers here. From watches to perfume and high fashion, it’s a great place to indulge. I once got an amazing Jenny Packham gown here, and I still love it.
Harrods is famous throughout the world for its window displays and impressive interiors. This place was home to London’s first ‘moving staircase’, an escalator crafted from leather in 1898.
Today there are many more, and shoppers can use them to get lost in its maze of luxurious rooms.
My favorite place to wander here is Harrods Food Halls. This place is the stuff of culinary dreams, from its delectable selection of chocolates to its prepared food offerings, fresh vegetables, and tins of biscuits.
There are plenty of restaurants, cafes, and afternoon tea offerings here, too. From The Tiffany Blue Box Cafe at Harrods to Studio Frantzen and Harrods Dining Hall, there’s a lot to love about the food here.
Harrods even has a dedicated Christmas shop on the lower ground floor. It’s packed with wreaths, nutcrackers, advent calendars, baubles, Christmas crackers, crowns, and more. It’s also where you can find the annual Harrods Christmas bear.
4. Selfridges
Selfridges is another of my favorite London department stores. Located right on Oxford Street in Marylebone, this iconic retail heavyweight attracts locals and visitors from all over the world.
Selfridges was established in 1909 by American businessman Harry Gordon Selfridge. The shop’s iconic facade with its rows of Neoclassical columns was designed by Daniel Burnham. It’s the second largest retail property in the UK after Harrods.
Selfridges carries a range of high street and designer clothing brands (I once got an amazing Dior dress here), home goods, gifts, cosmetics, and more.
The shop also offers events, experiences, talks, workshops, and a beauty concierge. There’s even a cinema.
There are places to eat here, too. With its beautiful interior and hanging wisteria, Aubaine Selfridges is one of my top picks for cute cafes in London.
There’s an amazing Christmas shop here during the festive season, too. Whether you’re looking for decorations, gifts, candles, seasonal tableware, stocking stuffers, or Christmas hampers, you can find it here.
5. John Lewis
John Lewis is another of the top London department stores. Not far from Selfridges on Oxford Street, this landmark shop is one of the most famous in the UK capital.
Known for home goods, appliances, and electronics, this flagship store is a great place to pick up basics and household staples. From bedding to tableware, there’s a lot to choose from.
As with others on my list, John Lewis has a seasonal Christmas emporium featuring festive gifts and decorations. It also offers workshops and events, from Christmas crafts to mouth-watering tastings.
6. Peter Jones
Right on the King’s Road in Chelsea, Peter Jones is another of my top picks for London department stores. Owned by John Lewis, it’s an upscale outpost of the original.
When it comes to things to buy, Peter Jones is packed with seven floors of clothing, household goods, and more.
It’s a popular place to buy furniture, dishes, and other necessities for your home (I picked up all my tableware, kitchen appliances, and linens here when I bought my flat in London).
There’s also a cafe and a restaurant, both of which have great views of the surrounding area. They’re fun places to rest your legs on a big day of shopping (the King’s Road is one of the best shopping streets in London, after all).
Peter Jones has a Christmas shop during the festive season, too. From classic British ornaments to tableware, trees, and crackers, this is a great place to find gifts and festive trimmings for the season.
7. Harvey Nichols
Next on my list is Harvey Nichols. Right near Harrods, this Knightsbridge number is one of the most famous luxury department stores in the UK (and many locals will tell you they prefer it to its neighbor).
Harvey Nichols is known for is window displays. They’re fun to browse, and they’re likely to tempt you inside to do some shopping.
Once you pass through the doors, there are lots of treats for the eyes. From luxury home goods to fragrances, clothing, and beauty products, there’s plenty to love here.
And that’s to say nothing of the famous Fifth Floor cafe and its popular terrace. Open for all-day dining, brunch, and afternoon tea, it’s the perfect place to take a break on a busy day of shopping in London.
Harvey Nichols is a fun spot to shop at Christmas, too. From classic hampers to traditional British Christmas food, there are plenty of presents to pick out for your loved ones.
8. Dover Street Market
Next on my list of the best London department stores is Dover Street Market. Located on Haymarket near Piccadilly Circus, Leicester Square, and Trafalgar Square, it’s in a convenient central location for shopping.
Unlike many of the others on my list, Dover Street Market is on the newer end of the spectrum.
Opened in 2004 by Rei Kawakubo (of Comme des Garcons fame) and Adrian Joffe, it offers all the Comme des Garcons brands as well as a range of high fashion and streetwear labels.
What’s unique about this hip seven-story emporium is that each brand is allowed to decorate its own space. The creativity makes for a cool experience as you wind your way around the mezzanines and through the warren of corners and nooks.
9. Fenwick
Fenwick is another of the best department stores in London. While its historic New Bond Street location sadly closed down in 2024, there are still two locations left in London.
One is in Kingston-upon-Thames (it was formerly Bentalls), and the other is in Brent Cross. Both are in shopping malls with lots of other high street names to browse.
While neither has the old-world glamour (not to mention the prime Mayfair location) of the Bond Street store, they’re still great places to shop.
Fenwick carries luxury brands, beauty products, women’s and men’s fashion and accessories, children’s clothing, home goods, and more.
Map of Department Stores in London
As promised, I created an interactive Google map of all the department stores I listed in this blog post. You can find it here. I hope it helps you plan the perfect shopping trip!
Best London Department Stores
I hope my guide to the best London department stores has given you good ideas for where to browse and buy. London is one of the best cities for shopping in the UK (and the world), and you’re bound to find a place you love here.
If you need more inspiration, you can shop at department stores like Marks & Spencer on Oxford Street (call is M&S if you want to sound like a local).
You can also find more fun shops in the Westfield malls in White City and Stratford, Battersea Power Station, and on Regent Street and other high streets in London. The Whiteley (formerly Whiteleys department store) in Bayswater has great boutiques, too.
Wherever you go, I’m sure you’ll have fun choosing what to take home with you. Happy shopping!
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